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Vanilla Bean Milkshake

What can I say about this one? Sometimes the best things in life are the simplest, and a thick and creamy vanilla milkshake is definitely one of those things. The fresh vanilla bean will give you a shake flecked with tiny dark specks of recognizable vanilla, but its true and intense flavor is a quality far greater than cosmetic. Basic but never boring, the vanilla shake can also be doctored up in dozens of ways. I’ve included a couple of my favorite variations below.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes one 16-ounce milkshake or two 8-ounce milkshakes

Ingredients

1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 fresh vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped (reserve the pod for another use)
11 ounces premium vanilla ice cream (about 1 3/4 packed cups)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the milk and vanilla bean seeds in a blender and blend until combined, about 5 seconds. Add the ice cream and blend until smooth, about 10 seconds.

  2. ADULTS

    Step 2

    Add 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) bourbon to the blender when you add the milk.

  3. SPICED VANILLA BEAN MILKSHAKE

    Step 3

    Add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg.

  4. VANILLA BEAN-CARAMEL MILKSHAKE

    Step 4

    Decrease the milk to 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup Caramel Sauce (page 153).

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